Bursary brings childhood dream to life

July 20, 2015

Tan Hui Ching

“It is only fair that we help one another in society, for the privileged to empower the less privileged, so as to allow them an equal chance at life, and also allow them to do their part and contribute to society as well. It is only when all members of the community work together that we can promote peace and harmony,” says Tan Hui Ching, a Year 2 student at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies and a bursary recipient.

Hui Ching dreamt of working as a healthcare professional as a little girl. Once she had completed her A Levels, she made the decision to take up a career in nursing. Receiving a bursary helped her make her decision and has allowed her to have a more fulfilling learning experience. “The award has allowed me to cope with the financial burden of schooling and focus more on my studies. In addition, being awarded the bursary also gave me the privilege of gaining exposure at various hospitals during my attachments, which makes it easier for me to choose the hospital I prefer to work at,” she shares.

Having benefitted from a bursary, Hui Ching would like to pass on this gift to her future patients by making good use of the time she has to concentrate on becoming become the best nurse possible. She explains, “I hope that by having more time to study, I will improve my nursing skills and knowledge so that I will be able to serve my future patients in a more professional and reliable manner. Also, when I am financially stable in the future, I would like to take up the opposite position of being a ‘giver’, in the hope of benefiting other students in need of help.”

Studying nursing has provided Hui Ching with many rewarding experiences that have left a lasting impression. She explains, “During my attachment at a community hospital, my patients responded with much patience and assurance, expressing trust in my ability, which gave me the confidence to perform my skills competently despite me being new. It means a lot to them to have me helping them in their basic, yet necessary daily tasks which they are unable to carry out independently. I felt much appreciated, which helped me develop a stronger interest in nursing.”

Hui Ching also shares her encounter with a patient with schizophrenia and slight dementia. “At the end of my five days of attachment, she specifically asked for me to feed her. I was surprised as I didn’t expect her to remember me. It really touched me that she showed appreciation and acknowledged my care for her. Although she was not one of the most cooperative patients I have encountered, she taught me a lot in terms of providing my patients with holistic care, one of the most important aspects in nursing,” she expresses.